The European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF), of which the Center for Environment is a member, and the Cycling Industries Europe (CIE) joined over 80 stakeholders in online consultations with DG MOVE of the European Commission to provide feedback on the early draft of the European Cycling Declaration. The consultations took place within the Expert Group on Urban Mobility of the European Commission (EGUM) on July 3, 2023. Participants included representatives from cities, regions, member states, companies, associations, and other stakeholders.
The creation of the European Cycling Declaration was announced by Executive Vice-President of the Eeuropean Commission Frans Timmermans at the CIE Summit on March 9, 2023.
EGUM consultation participants unanimously called for the declaration to embody the high ambitions expressed by Timmermans in his March speech. Stakeholders emphasized that the declaration’s first principle “must recognize cycling as a complete mode of transportation” – as stated by Timmermans – in all EU laws, policies, and funding programs, placing it on an equal footing with other modes of transportation.
It was also concluded that the declaration should include clear goals and commitments for the development of cycling. This includes the goal of doubling the number of kilometers people in the EU cycle by 2030, as well as targets for at least 100,000 km of new cycling infrastructure and networks in cities that are part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). The goals also involve significant increases in EU and national investments in cycling. ECF and CIE estimate that at least €20 billion in investments are needed by 2030 to unlock the potential of cycling to achieve EU climate, economic, and health goals.
Enabling safer cycling, primarily through reducing speed limits for motor vehicles in cities, is also a strongly supported objective.